Program Overview

Education Administration EdS, Executive Superintendency Emphasis

The Ed.S. in Education Administration is designed for individuals who want to take their career, and their ability, to the next level. Students in the Ed.S. program may choose a plan of study that will prepare them for one of three Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) certification areas: Superintendent, Special Education Program Director, and Initial Principal Certification. The superintendent certification track is an online cohort program in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Missouri - Columbia and the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Admission Standards

To be admitted to the Ed.S. in Education Administration program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted without qualification to the Graduate School
• Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.00 in graduate studies in education (Master's degree) from an accredited institution
• Have on file at least three recommendations, including one from an educator presently occupying a position equal or similar to that which the applicant aspires upon completing the Ed.S. and one from someone other than a member of the applicant's family who can comment on the applicant's character
• Applicants must have a minimum of two years teaching experience. For candidates seeking superintendent certification, a current principal certification and experience as a building-level leader is preferred.

Degree Requirements

There are three distinct plans of study for individuals seeking an Ed.S. Degree. Each candidate must complete the following core courses or an equivalent. Courses may have been taken as part of a master's degree program.

• ED ADM 6205: Legal Contexts of Education (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6701: Leadership for Equity (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6702: Supervision in Education Organizations (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6714: K-12 School Administration (3 hours)
• TCH ED 6411: Curriculum Leadership in Education (3 hours) Total Hours: 15

Emphasis Area Requirements

This plan of study prepares students with a current principal certification and building-level leadership experience to become inquiring, reflective school leaders at the district level. The program aligns with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Missouri Leadership Standards for superintendent certification.

For students who have obtained an approved master's degree in education administration (minimum 30 credit hours), the Ed.S. is an additional 30 credit hours (Minimum of 60 total credit hours). Candidates should consult with an advisor to ensure their courses align to specific certification requirements.

Internships and State Assessments

Students will complete a total of three semester hours of an internship during the fall and/or spring semester. An approved mentor, usually in the school district in which the student is employed, must be approved by the student's advisor. The mentor must be serving in an assistant superintendent or superintendent capacity, must have superintendent certification, and must have an Ed.S. or doctoral degree. The internship requires an action research project which will serve as a capstone examination for the program.

To be certified, students must take the appropriate content exam as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Plan of Study

The plan of study for this certification area includes:

• ED ADM 5626: Theories of Educational Administration (3 hours)
• ED ADM 5627: Advanced Education Supervision (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6301: Education Policy Analysis (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6305: School District Administration (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6402: School Personnel Administration (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6403: Problems in School Public Relations (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6501: Principles of Public School Finance in Missouri (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6424: Educational Leadership: Superintendent as Instructional Leader (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6435: Superintendent: Legal Leadership and Management (3 hours)
• ED ADM 6903: Superintendent Clinical Experience (3 hours) Total Hours: 30

Academic Affairs

The Ed.S. in Education Administration requires at least sixty (60) graduate credit hours of a planned program and may include no more than thirty (30) credit hours of an approved master’s degree. One-half of all hours must be completed at UMSL.